A City of DeKalb chief of police Gene Lowery grills hot dogs at the Camp Power barbecue.
Providing for the needs of at-risk youth throughout the summer months is a priority for the DeKalb community.
Local community organizations and hundreds of volunteers help provide and support various camps for youth designed to provide access to nutritious foods, physical activity, academic engagement and mentoring in a safe environment throughout the summer months.
The NIU campus has supported these efforts.
NIU’s Office of Community Affairs is hosting a panel discussion Thursday, April 9, with representatives from three community youth summer camp programs to encourage NIU faculty and staff to learn more about these camps and help further connect campus resources, expertise and/or special programming ideas to these innovative community lead programs.
Members of the campus community are invited from noon to 1 p.m. to the Glass Gallery Lounge of the Holmes Student Center for the brown-bag event.
Representatives from the following community summer camp programs will participate in the panel:
- Good Life Academy provides a free summer academic sessions and nutritious meals for children ages 4 to 18. Academic enrichment activities include reading, math, science, character development and life skills training as well as activities that include chess, sign language, foreign language, music, drama, dance and arts and crafts.
- Camp Power is a free, collaborative summer program offered on-site to children and families living in the University Village housing development. Camp Power offers nutritious lunch service, structured physical activities, nutrition education, life skills training and family engagement activities, as well as employment opportunities for parents, weekly field trips, exposure to a range of community resources and daily interaction with police officers. Camp Power serves children ages 5 to 10.
- Power UP (new in 2015) is a program available to middle school youth living in the University Village neighborhood. This free program will offer daily nutritious lunch service, sports, leadership and life skills training, mentoring, community service projects, hobby/career exploration and field trips.
- YMCA Youth Development offers children a safe place to learn, play and grow during the summer months. With an emphasis on health, well-being and fitness, the Y summer program nurtures mind, body and spirit and helps children learn how to build friendships. The Y offers scholarships to provide numerous children in financial need with free or reduced price access to their youth summer camps.
All members of the NIU faculty and staff community are invited to attend the panel presentation, especially those interested in learning more about sharing information about their own departmental resources and connections. RSVPs are not required, but strongly encouraged.
For more information, call (815) 753-0919 or email aclay1@niu.edu.
